7-year-old bags buck

OHIO VALLEY — Some hunters spend years trying for their first 12-point buck, but 7-year-old Makenna Rankin, of Tuppers Plains, accomplished the feat her first time out.

Rankin went hunting for the first time during youth deer gun season in November. Accompanied by her father, this young hunter bagged her a 12-point buck on Calaway Ridge Road in Meigs County.

Youth deer gun season in Ohio was Nov. 21-22. During these dates, young hunters 17 years old and younger are allowed hunting privileges. These young hunters are required to follow all the rules of adult hunters in regard to reporting and tagging the deer and wearing hunter orange.

According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, all youth hunting opportunities (except the youth waterfowl hunting season) are available to any hunter that possess a valid youth hunting license.

All young hunters participating in youth hunts, regardless of age, must be accompanied by a non-hunting adult. ODNR defines this as any person age 18 or older who accompanies the young hunter to and from the field and is present while they are engaged in hunting. The non-hunting adult may not possess any hunting implements, is not required to have a hunting license and must stay within a distance from the person that enables uninterrupted, unaided visual and auditory communications.

Needless to say, Rankin was very happy with her success. She said she plans to have the deer mounted as a reminder of her first hunt.

Contact Lorna Hart at 740-992-2155 Ext. 2551.

Makenna Rankin is shown with her first kill, a 12 point buck.

http://mydailysentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_Youth-Hunting-Day-002.jpgMakenna Rankin is shown with her first kill, a 12 point buck.